Report on Byway Open to All Traffic: Bentworth 23 Final Report Version number 1.1 6 June 2016 From Walk Unlimited Written by : Contact : [Note that throughout this report the term ‘motorbike’ is used to refer to mechanically propelled vehicles with 2 wheels, and the term ‘4WD’ is used to refer to mechanically propelled vehicles with 3 or more wheels, and the term ‘motorised vehicles’ is used to refer to all mechanically propelled vehicles, for convenience.] Page !1 of !18 1 Introduction and character summary 1.1 Bentworth Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) 23 is located between Ashley Road (Grid Ref: SU 648 400) at its northern end and Holt End Lane/Trinity Road (Grid Ref: SU 655 384). It is 2067 metres long. BOAT 23 is described in the Definitive Statement, which forms part of the legal record of public rights of way, as follows: “From Road C.36 northwestwards along 10 ft. wide stone based track enclosed approximately 25 ft. wide between hedges, then northwards to Road U.227 at Ashley Farm” - where Road C.36 is Holt End Lane/Trinity Road and Road U.227 is Ashley Road. The northern half of BOAT 23 (running roughly north- south) is also known as Dirty Lane and forms a part of the Oxdrove Way promoted off-road cycle trail; the southern half (running roughly north-west to south-east) is also known as Jennie Green Lane. 1.2 BOAT 23 is for the most part open in character with grassy verges and hedgerows, some of which are managed and some which are predominantly comprised of semi-mature and mature trees, on both sides of a surfaced track. Adjacent agricultural fields are accessed from the BOAT, which also provides access to a small number of buildings (dwellings and agricultural businesses) at or near its southern end. 1.3 The entire length of BOAT 23 has a rural character with a feeling of remoteness and tranquillity. Birdsong and raptor calls can be readily heard from the BOAT. Engine noise is largely absent; Ashley Road has very little traffic indeed, and only occasional road noise can be heard from the southern end of the BOAT. There are few buildings to be seen, and these only at either end of the BOAT. The landscape to either side of the BOAT is managed agricultural. The surface is unsealed and the BOAT has the appearance and character of a route which is predominantly used by the public on foot, cycle or horseback. 1.4 The land crossed by BOAT 23 is not designated as a nature reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area or Special Area of Conservation, nor is it within or adjacent to a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 2 Physical Condition Assessment 2.1 The centre of the BOAT has a firm stone surface throughout. There are grassy verges along both sides of the surfaced track; the verges are mostly level, they vary in width and their surface is uneven in some places. The surface of the BOAT has some potholes which hold water; the potholes vary in depth up to about 6 inches deep and some extend across the full width of the surfaced part of the BOAT. Surface mud covers some parts of the BOAT, notably through the centre stretch. This mud is deep in places with ruts forming in vehicle tracks. Where deep mud has formed, it often covers the full surfaced width of the BOAT. 2.2 The table and diagram below contain a detailed assessment of the condition of the route with photographic illustrations. The survey was undertaken on a clear, predominantly dry day in February 2016. The preceding months had experienced unusually high amounts of rainfall. Page !2 of !18 Condition of Bentworth 23, as of 23 February 2016 Point Grid Location Photograph Notes on BOAT management / Reference descripton condition 1 SU 648 400 Northern end of The entrance to the BOAT from the BOAT at junction road is firm and level with a stony with Ashley Road surface. There is a double field gate, locked by combination padlock and chain across the BOAT with a 2-way self-closing bridlegate to the west side, ! separated from the field gate by a narrow gap. There is no signpost. There is evidence of use by motorbikes, cyclists and walkers through the bridlegate. There is evidence of use by vehicles through the western field gate (on the right in the photo) 2 SU 648 400 South of gates Past the gates, the BOAT has a firm, level stone surface with some light surface mud. A wide ditch has been cut to the east of the surfaced track, separated from the track by a bank. ! Drainage grips have been cut through the bank. There is a mature high hedge to the east of the ditch, and a managed hedge to the west side of the BOAT. The hedge on the west side includes an avenue of trees at the northern end - these thin to occasional trees further along the BOAT. ! The BOAT has an open aspect with wide grassy verges. The grass verge on the west side has recently been cut and the hedge has been flailed. There is some shallow potholing, and occasional deeper water-filled potholes. Tyre tracks of agricultural vehicles are evident in the surface mud. ! Page !3 of !18 3 SU 647 397 At junction with A double field gate provides access (private) track to the adjacent field to the east of leading to east the BOAT. The gateway shows through small signs of use by agricultural woodland to Gaston vehicles. Wood ! 4 SU 647 396 A 4” deep water-filled pothole occupies the full width of the surfaced part of the BOAT. The pothole has a firm base. The verges show signs of use. ! 5 SU 647 395 At junction with A double field gate provides access (private) track to the adjacent field to the west of leading to west the BOAT. The gateway shows signs of use by agricultural vehicles travelling along the BOAT from/to the north. ! 6 SU 647 395 A 6” deep water-filled pothole occupies the full width of the surfaced part of the BOAT. The grass verges are passable, although they have lost some of their grass cover due to use and ! the verge surface may become deep if wet weather and heavy use continues. The verges show signs of use by horses. To the south of the wide pothole, the BOAT is firm and level, with grass growing down the centre strip. Page !4 of !18 7 SU 647 394 There is a depression, or dip, in the surfaced BOAT. The east side of the surfaced track is muddy, with water pooling in the beginnings of a rut. A short (5m) ditch has been cut to the east of the BOAT, with a grip cut from the depression to the ditch. ! Use by heavy vehicles has pushed the surface mud upwards so that it forms a barrier between the rut in the track and the drainage grip; this means that water is not flowing into the ditch. ! Further along the same thing has happened. The photograph illustrates water flowing from the rut into the drainage grip when a break in the banked up mud is created. ! The verges on this section of the BOAT are banked and uneven. The surfaced part of the BOAT has a deep covering of mud. It is possible for walkers and cyclists to travel along the BOAT by crossing between the eastern and western vehicle tracks, but if the surface ! deteriorates further this will no longer be possible. 8 SU 647 392 At field boundary to There are field gates on both sides east side of BOAT of the BOAT providing access to the adjacent fields. The gateway on the west side shows little sign of recent use. The gateway on the east side shows recent use by ! vehicles to/from the south. Page !5 of !18 9 SU 647 391 To south of field A 40m ditch has been cut to the boundary at point 8 west side of the BOAT. Drainage grips have been cut from the BOAT to the ditch. ! There is no camber on the surfaced part of the BOAT and where a deep (6”) pothole has formed in the surface of the track the BOAT lies lower than the grips, so water does not flow off the surface. The bank between the ditch and the surfaced part of the BOAT is muddy and uneven. ! There is a steep bank on the east side of the BOAT, which is not suitable for travelling on. The track surface in the pothole is firm, but the water is muddy so the depth can only been ascertained by passing through the water. ! 10 SU 647 391 To north of junction A muddy patch covers the width of with f/p 10 the surfaced part of the BOAT. Shallow ruts from vehicle use have formed in the surface mud. There is some potholing particularly in the rut on the eastern side of the BOAT, and a build up of mud in the ! centre of the track; these combine to cause pooling of water in the eastern rut. On the west side of the BOAT, drainage grips have been cut to a ditch. The ditch is filled with silt, as is the grip. It is likely that water will start to pool in the western rut as it no longer has any means of running off. ! Page !6 of !18 11 SU 647 391 Junction with There is a fingerpost at the junction footpath 10 and with the footpath.